Do I have to enroll during a specific time period or is enrollment accepted at any time?

SAFM enrolls new practitioner cohorts seasonally – four times a year.  Scroll down to the bottom of this page to see if enrollment is currently open.  

If not, you may stay tuned to our website, weekly emails, and social media sites for registration announcements or sign up for notifications here.

What is Basic Access?

When you first enroll at SAFM, you will have Full access status that allows you to progress to new coursework and all SAFM programs at your own pace. This includes access to all support activities (e.g. live Open Coaching Calls, Mastermind sessions) and to logging AFMC certification and re-certification requirements.  You must have Full access enrollment to continue forward progress in all curriculum in any program. You also must maintain Full access status for at least the first six months of enrollment at SAFM.

We appreciate that there may be times in your educational and career support journey when you need a break. We want all of our practitioner students to enjoy rich, balanced, satisfying lives. Both expected and unexpected life events may require making your functional medicine journey a lesser priority for a while. We support everyone in our practitioner community balancing life priorities over time, and you don’t have to walk away from your SAFM engagement (and access to valuable resources and our community platform) in order to do so. Basic access status (at this time: $29/month tuition*) will allow you to continue to access courses that you have already begun while you are pausing your Full Access.

While in Basic Access, you may continue to learn from your current/prior Functional Medicine coursework, access some key clinical resources (e.g. Q&A Treasure Chest), and also engage with colleagues on your community forum Hub. Specifically, you will not be able to access new courses, live sessions (e.g. Open Coaching Calls, Mastermind sessions), or Activator educational content or purchase additional Deep Dive Clinical Courses or Custom Consultations or register credits toward AFMC certification or re-certification.

Once you are ready and resume Full Access status, you will once again enjoy your unrestricted forward movement through all of SAFM’s coursework and programs.

Students may change their enrollment status to/from Basic Access ONLY via the Enrollment Access Tiers quicklink on their student home page. All changes in Access must be made at least 48 hours prior to the beginning of the next calendar month in order to receive a change for the upcoming month. Any and all changes registered within or after this 48-hour window will not be reflected until the following month. Please understand that exceptions to this billing policy cannot be granted.

*Pricing is subject to change.

How long does AFMC certification take?

This is largely up to you, with some program components being fully self-paced and others being time-bound. Certification is an important milestone but just one of many in each practitioner’s overall journey to clinical mastery.

You have freedom to go at the pace you prefer in experiencing all of our courses – and modify it as needed for your unique work/life over time. Beyond courses, required case practice sessions in our Open Coaching Calls happen on a near-monthly basis and add a time-bound element to your experience to ensure your learning is rich and retained. Plus we encourage you to galvanize your learning by applying it in your clinical practice as you progress through the programs.

The number of study hours required is highly dependent upon the individual student’s educational background, professional experience, study habits, and native language. On average, students devote 8-12 hrs/week to their SAFM studies. Some more, some less. The three AFMC certification level exams are offered three times a year.

The typical student completes all AFMC certification requirements to earn certification within 2 -3 years

• Level 1 curriculum and AFMC exam (minimum of 9-12 months).
• Level 2 curriculum and AFMC exam (minimum of 9-12 months)
• Level 3 (3-12 months preparation for and completion of AFMC Level 3 exam).

While you have the flexibility to progress through the curriculum content at your own pace, your individual time to completion of the AFMC certification will depend on several factors (e.g. your enrollment timing, availability and schedule of Live calls (eligible to claim credits for), timing of the AFMC exam windows, amount of time and pace you can commit to).

Full AFMC certification requires completion of the Level 1 and Level 2 Functional Medicine programs, one of the two tracts in the Ignite Your Clinical Practice program, and three levels of AFMC examinations. Programs are completed in succession, but it is not uncommon for students to take time to reinforce prior coursework before diving into the next AFMC exam or program. This can be helpful for locking in concepts before moving forward on your certification journey and/or to practice applying recent learning in your clinical work with patients/clients. 

SAFM’s Practitioner Activator program provides ongoing education and mentoring – even after AFMC certification – for career-long support in creating your greatest impact and career success.

When can I take my AFMC exams?

Is this program suitable for international students?

Absolutely! Today SAFM is proud to be a diverse, virtual community with practitioners from over 70 countries.  Functional medicine is needed everywhere, as are smart, capable practitioners confident in the savvy application know-how that is so valuable to helping their patients/clients get well and stay well. 

We recognize that each country differs in terms of healthcare regulations/practices, access to labs/supplements, typical clinical tools, practitioner roles/scope of practice, and even overall awareness of or access to functional medicine. We understand that these topics are important considerations as international applicants explore what SAFM offers.  We also know that functional medicine foundations and principles are key to positive transformation of healthcare outcomes, no matter the geography.

How does the enrollment process work?

It’s quick and easy!

To ensure a smooth process, we recommend that you consider all of the following before enrolling:

• Ensure you have reviewed some of SAFM’s publicly accessible, educational content to confirm our teaching style is a good fit with your advanced education and professional goals.
• You will need to upload your professional credentials in order to complete your enrollment. Please have this ready in advance.
• Consider whether you wish to take advantage of any available Tuition Prepayment option for significant tuition savings (and bonus clinical courses, free of charge) by prepaying for 20 months of tuition at the time of enrollment (this option is not available after enrollment submission).

As part of the enrollment process, you will answer a few questions that will ensure compatibility and that all current, eligibility requirements are met. Occasionally, we will need to have a short phone conversation with a prospective student prior to enrollment in order to confirm compatability and/or eligibility details. 

Enrollments are only valid for the registration period in which they are submitted.

Who is eligible to enroll at SAFM?

Students in SAFM’s programs are active medical and wellness professionals who intend to develop capability in using applied functional medicine in their clinical practice. Questions included in the enrollment process ensure that all compatibility and eligibility requirements are met:

• Must be 18 years of age or older.
• An active license or certification in a medical or wellness healthcare modality.
  • If you are a licensed practitioner, then you must submit a copy of your active license (or similar documentation as required in your country of practice). If you are a practitioner in a non-licensed modality, then you must submit your completed modality certification.
• Relevant “active professional practice” experience working with patients or clients.* Our students are currently engaged in healthcare roles in many different types of practices and business models, so it does not need to be in a private practice or have a functional medicine focus. Note: Professional experience does not include any pro bono work or working with family members.
• An active, ongoing patient or client base with whom to apply your new learning from the program (or, if on a leave of absence, a clear plan for returning to clinical practice).
• Solid working knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry or willingess to pursue extracurricular foundational learning in these areas, as needed, to address knowledge gaps.
• Sufficient exposure to SAFM’s content (many resources are publicly available) to determine that our approach to functional medicine and teaching style will be a fit for your professional goals.
• A willingness to devote ongoing study to coursework (depending upon the pace you choose).

*Relevant “active professional practice” experience:

• May be either paid or unpaid.
• Must involve active, care- or consult-related interaction (not simply observation, shadowing, or administration).
• Serves to inform your decision to pursue functional medicine as a complement to or redirection of your healthcare career. 

Acceptable experiences may include but are not limited to full or part-time employment or private practice in your area of licensure or certification, clinical residency or rotation, or other supervised practicum.

What is the estimated time requirement for the Activator Program?

Each month, the Practitioner Activator program currently offer three Live events for all participants (a two-hour Element Intensive lecture and two 60-minute Targeted Topic Q&A sessions). You will also be able to join a live peer Mastermind group that meets monthly for 90 minutes.

There’s also plenty of opportunity for self-study! Once enrolled, you will have access to our library of Element Intensive sessions, PDFs, worksheets, videos and guides to help you along your path, as well as a rich community experience inside the Activator Hub. It’s recommended to carve out at least 2-3 hours per week to dedicate to your activation.

What is the Activator program? How long may I participate?

SAFM’s Practitioner Activator program is the fourth and final program in the progression of four programs that students experience at SAFM. It is designed to provide our practitioner community with the support they need on an ongoing basis in order to be capable, confident, fulfilled practitioners using applied functional medicine in clinical practice throughout their career. That is, Doing the work – with success and satisfaction! 

Activator program access automatically begins after successful completion of the Level 2 AFMC exam. Within Activator, you will find a rich diversity of SAFM students and stages of progession in both training and business growth/maturity – from those who completed their Level 2 AFMC exam just last month. to those who were AFMC-certified last year, to those who were AFMC-certified many years ago and are continuing to build and enjoy the practice of their dreams with the support of SAFM resources and our inspired community. You may remain enrolled at SAFM and benfiting from Activator as long as you wish, as long as you are professionally engaged in some type of active medical or wellness practice.

Our practitioners seek to apply their learning professionally in many different modalities, countries of practice, payment models, business structures, multimodality collaboration models, and service offerings. Hence, Practitioner Activator cannot and does not provide a single, step-by-step “how to” instruction on building a business.  Instead, you will find a continuously expanding toolbox of assessments, resources, and education to help you address the current gaps in your business creation and growth, as they evolve and change over time.  Plus mentoring via Targeted Q&A sessions, a community engagement Hub, and small group peer Masterminds to support You in wherever you choose to focus next.

Learn more here about the six educational Elements and featured components of this program. You can dive into any number of topics including marketing, practice efficiency and support, social media, programming and pricing guidance, advanced clinical education, clinical efficiency tools to help maximize your impact, and so much more!

Who is eligible to join Activator? When may I join?

SAFM’s Practitioner Activator program is only open to Full Access enrolled SAFM students who have passed the AFMC Level 2 exam (which requires completion of both the Level 2 Functional Medicine and Ignite Your Clinical Practice programs).

Activator will enroll students three times a year (spring, summer, autumn) following each of the yearly AFMC certification exam periods.  For each of these enrollment dates, a two week Activator registration window opens up the month prior.

What is the cost of SAFM tuition?

SAFM’s convenient, monthly tuition gives incoming and ongoing students Full Access to move through SAFM’s four programs at their own pace.  Enrollment is for a minimum of six months.#

Non-certified students*
For a non-AFMC-certified student, SAFM tuition is currently $297/month.*

AFMC-Certified Students*
For an AFMC-certified student, SAFM tuition is currently $197/month.*

Tuition pre-payment promotions may be available during some enrollment periods.

*As of June 2024. Tuition is subject to change.

# Basic Access is an option for students who need to take a pause in the forward progression of their learning and program completion.

I work in a conventional medical environment. Will I benefit from the Activator program, or do I have to own my own business?

The Activator program will benefit all practitioners including conventional, independent private practice, insurance based, cash based, or other models of practice. Activator will cover topics across a diversity of practice models, so that you can simply take what you need from each of the Elements that are relevant for your professional journey, and tailor a program that fits you!

You’ll learn ways to be more effective in applying Functional Medicine quickly and expand your reach and impact, with skills like: running group medical visits, capturing patient success and testimonials, billing and coding, motivational interviewing, and advanced functional medicine topics to expand your knowledge.

Can Activator help me build my own practice, even if I have no business training?

Yes! You will have the opportunity to learn from experts on how to create your own business plan, shape your money mindset, and get the proper legal framework in place and so much more as you navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship.

This is a safe place to get a handle on the basics for running a healthcare business without committing to an MBA. We teach you to “ask who, not how” by introducing you to expert leaders in industries like financial, legal, marketing and more!

Learn more here about how the Activator program works.

Does SAFM offer a referral program?

Yes! Thank you for your generous enthusiasm about SAFM and wanting to share your experience and the opportunity with your colleagues.

Our student referral program is limited to current (already enrolled) students whose referrals enroll and matriculate in our Functional Medicine training.  Just make sure the new student you referred shares your name during the enrollment process (in a special “referred by” field); all designations after the point enrollment are ineligible.

You will earn a $600 referral commission (or $900 if you are AFMC-certified at the time of the referred practitioner’s enrollment submission). It’s our way of sharing our gratitude! There is no limit to how many new students you can refer for a commission.  You are rewarded for each one. In the event a new student lists multiple referrer names, the commission will be awarded to the first name listed.

Commissions are paid monthly ($150/month) over 4 or 6 months. Referred students must remain enrolled for the required six month minimum to qualify for all commission payments.

You may find all student referral program details and terms here.

Can we post questions prior to live Open Q&A sessions?

You will only be able to post questions for Open Q&A sessions only during the live event.

What is the Ignite your Clinical Practice program?

Transforming health care means identifying opportunities for putting SAFM’s functional medicine training into practice. Ignite your Clinical Practice is a modular-based program, that you gain access to upon passing the AFMC Level 1 exam. It is designed to offer ideas and insights from some of the best and brightest leaders in both the functional medicine industry and the SAFM practitioner community, so you can begin to Activate a greater impact in your clinical practice. A rich diversity of topics are covered, all focused on maximizing your efficiency and effectiveness as a practitioner (e.g. time management, session organization, billing, collaboration, group programs).

Content for this course is organized into two modules, each focused on a specific clinical business model: Managed Care or Entrepreneurial Care. This course is not a practicum but rather an opportunity to learn how to integrate SAFM learning into practice across a variety of health care models, including a diversity of clinical settings, modalities, and appointment time constraints (i.e., managed and entrepreneurial care).

Completion of the Ignite Your Clinical Practice program is a pre-requisite requirement in order to register for the AFMC Level 2 Exam.*

* Students enrolled prior to June 2024, may have different requirements.

Who develops and teaches the educational content in SAFM’s programs?

Level 1 and Level 2 Functional Medicine program courses are taught by Tracy Harrison. SAFM’s diverse, multi-modality Clinical Education Team develops and maintains/revises the curriculum for these programs, in line with the evolving science and industry practice of functional medicine, and supports student Q&A. 

Ignite Your Clinical Practice program sessions are taught by a diverse group of leaders in both the functional medicine industry (e.g. Dr. Shilpa Saxena, Dr. Terry Wahls) and the SAFM practitioner community. 

Practitioner Activator program curriculum and mentoring is led by Dr. Lara Salyer, with a rich diversity of industry leaders teaching specific topics in line with their expertise (e.g. social media marketing, business planning, clinical mastery topics).

The content and scientific validity and credibility of SAFM’s AFMC certification exams is overseen by the AFMC Scientific Review Council.

 

May I work ahead in the curriculum?

SAFM curriculum has been thoughtfully developed and organized to ensure a deep understanding of the material rather than rote memorization. Content becomes available for access on your student dashboard in a sequential manner designed to build progressive knowledge and comprehension of increasingly complex concepts. Students are encouraged to develop a solid level of confidence in one course before taking on the next. Our top goal (and, we believe, yours too) is your durable knowledge and advanced capability, not moving through the material quickly. 

In the progression of SAFM programs, the entire Level 1 Functional Medicine program (and Level 1 AFMC exam) must be completed before beginning either of the Level 2 Functional Medicine or Ignite Your Clinical Practice programs.  Similarly, both of these latter programs (and the Level 2 AFMC exam) must be completed before beginning the Practitioner Activator program.

In the progression of coursework within the Level 1 and Level 2 Functional Medicine programs, course access unfolds sequentially, with the next course becoming available only after the prior one has been completed (including relevant Self-Test or Completion activity submission).

Having said this, each SAFM student always has freedom and autonomy to choose the pace at which you move through the coursework and progress through the programs, given your personal schedule and goals.  We recommend you learn quickly enough to keep yourself inspired yet slowly enough to make sure you retain what you learn from each course.

How do I obtain proof of completion for the Level 1 or Level 2 program (for CE/CMEs)?

If you choose to seek continuing education credit for either the Level 1 or Level 2 program, a certificate of completion is available by request upon passing the associated exam. 

What is SAFM’s withdrawal policy?

SAFM’s functional medicine training programs represents a significant investment in both your professional and personal development as a practitioner.  As such, we do our best to ensure applicants have access to the information they need in order to makean enrollment decision with confidence. Occasionally, a student may wish to withdraw their enrollment at SAFM entirely. We outline definitive guidelines in our Refunds & Withdrawal Policy.

The Agreement signed at the time of an individual’s particular enrollment determines the specific terms applicable to that individual. Please refer to the copy of your own signed agreement terms.

For newly enrolled students:

• Students must withdraw within at least 8 calendar days of enrollment (program start date) in order to be eligible for and receive a full refund.
• All Withdrawals must be requested specifically using the Contact Support menu option (blue bar) via your student home page no later than this deadline in order to be valid. Request receipt timing is determined only by the submission of this form. 
  • Students who have withdrawn from SAFM will no longer have access to their dashboard, all coursework,  resources, materials, and community platforms. 
• Beyond the 8  day withdrawal window, newly enrolled students must fulfill the remaining 6 month minimum commitment to Full Access Enrollment.
• After the initial six-month commitment, students may change their enrollment status to/from Basic or Full Access, or withdraw at any time.
  • If you need to accommodate other life priorities for a time or take a pause in forward momentum in your learning, consider the Basic Access option.
• Withdrawals and all changes in Access must be made at least 48 hours prior to the next monthly tuition payment due date in order to take effect for the upcoming month. Any and all changes registered within or after this 48-hour window will not be reflected until the following month.

How do I maintain or renew my SAFM certification (the AFMC credential)?

The AFMC certification, once attained, is valid for three years. In order to maintain this credential, the recertification process requires 34 AFMC Learning Credits every three years.

These credits can be claimed via select AFMC learning opportunities (e.g. Open Coaching Calls and current, purchaseable Deep Dive Clinical Courses) anytime within each 3-year time period. Full access SAFM enrollment is required to access these educational opportunities that qualify for credits to enable recertification.

If a practitioner has not successfully submitted their recertification requirements by the 3-year recertification date, their AFMC certification status will be changed to “inactive”.*

If recertification has not been achieved within one year of the three-year AFMC certification date, the practitioner must complete required re-activation steps.* Visit the Recertification Overview page here to review more details about these opportunities and the recertification process.

* Effective March 2024 changes have been issued to SAFM’s recertification process. Be sure to reference and review the complete SAFM AFMC Practitioner Certification Terms and Conditions here.

May I begin the Level 2 curriculum before passing the Level 1 exam?

No. Passing the Level 1 AFMC exam is a requirement to commence the Level 2 curriculum.

What are the payment options for The SAFM Experience?

You may join SAFM with a monthly tuition of $297/month (six month minimum commitment followed by month-to-month- thereafter). Or, you can prepay for 20 months at a reduced tuition of $5497, a $500 savings. Students choosing the pre-pay option also receive five bonus Deep Dive Clinical Courses, a $1500 value. 

All payments are made as specified in the order form at the time of enrollment. The first payment is due at the time of enrollment if the student selects the monthly option and subsequent payments will be made on the first of  the following month. For students choosing the pre-pay option, payment is due at time of enrollment. At the end of the 20 months, payments will resume monthly at the then current monthly tuition rate.

*Tuition rates and pre-pay options are subject to change for each enrollment window.

Do you send 1098-T Tax Forms to students?

We are currently not recognized by the IRS through a national organization as a post-secondary educational institution, so we are not eligible to participate in the Title IV federal student aid programs to provide 1098-T forms to our students. However, we will provide you with a statement of payments you’ve made upon request.

Are students who are not medical practitioners able to order labs for clients or do they need a physician requisition?

Depending upon your scope of practice, licensure, and your state, you may or may not be able to order labs yourself to supprt your patients or clients.

While an SAFM student and prior to certification, you may use SAFM’s account with Evexia Diagnostics or Nordic Labs for labs you run on yourself for experiential learning only (panels which correspond to each Deep Dive Clinical Course you own). Details of these are contained within each specific course page on your dashboard. Additional functional lab opportunities are included with some courses as well.

Once you become a Certified AFMC practitioner, you will be able to open a professional account with Evexia (US, except NY, NJ, RI) and/or with Nordic Labs (International and excluded US states), which will allow you a convenient way to order a variety of labs for your clients yourself (if allowed as above) or under the requisition of a lab staff physician.

Please click here to check out this page for more details.

How long do I have access to my course materials?

As long as you maintain active enrollment at SAFM, you will have ongoing access to your course materials (including any updates and revisions) via your Student Dashboard. This supports your ability to revisit prior coursework for reinforcement at any time, as you progress through all SAFM programs, earn AFMC certification, and then pursue continuous learning and support throughout your career.

• Full access status allows you to continue to progress to new coursework and programs.
• Basic access status allows you to continue to access courses that you have already begun (except Open Coaching Calls, Mastermind sessions, AFMC certification activities, and (if applicable) Activator sessions) while you are pausing your Full Access. Learn full details here. Basic Access will be available starting in January 2025.

May I download some of the course materials?

Yes. Each course page on your dashboard holds a variety of materials. As a courtesy, you may download all slides and documents bundled into a ZIP archive. To do this, go to the specific course homepage, select the “Materials” tab, and click the button to begin the download.

What is the most effective way to utilize or organize course materials to support my learning?

Learning styles differ. Some learn best while watching the videos and taking online notes. Some are visual learners and may wish to print out slides to highlight key points and take notes manually. Others are auditory learners and prefer to listen to the audio files of classes again and again for reinforcement. still others use note-taking aids such as Evernote or Scrivener to combine notes with screen shots and the PDF files of the slides.

You may have to try a variety of ways to figure out which one works best for you. Consider checking in with your Tribe Mastermind peers to see what others are doing to gain suggestions and ideas.

Can I download the course video files for use offline?

To protect the integrity and copyright of the course materials, we do not permit the downloading of our course videos. We do, however, allow and encourage downloading course slides  and course documents, so you can access them on any device you desire.

What are the requirements for the Ignite your Clinical Practice program?

Completion of all sessions from ONE of either the Entrepreneurial or Managed Care modules in the Ignite your Clinical Practice program is required as a pre-requisite for the AFMC Level 2 exam.*

Your course page will track each session you complete with a green check mark. When you have completed all sessions for one of the modules, you will then have visibility to a form to verify completion of this requirement. This verification will then reflect the respective module you have completed in your Journey Map.

While completion of only one module is required as an AFMC requirement, we encourage students to explore the nuances of both modules for a better perspective and understanding of different practice models. There is, of course, translational learning and wisdom across the two modules that can support your clinical practice success.

* Students enrolled prior to June 2024, may have different requirements.

Does SAFM provide support for practice building / business training?

SAFM’s Level 1 and Level 2 functional medicine programs do not formally include business training (though a tremendous amount of clinical wisdom is covered to help ensure the success of your practice).

Tribe Mastermind sessions are designed to allow for professional exchange among students who may serve as a valuable professional network for these types of inquiries.

Custom Consultations (separate fee applies) are another option.  These 50-minute sessions include one hour with one of our senior practitioners who specifically work in a virtual practice.

The Ignite your Clinical Practice program gives students an opportunity to explore both the managed care and entrepreneurial care practice settings. You will learn from the wisdom of many successful practitioners (industry leaders and SAFM student colleagues) in this program. You gain access to this after passing the AFMC Level 1 exam.

The Practitioner Activator program directly supports students with education, resources, and mentoring about setting up and running a successful clinical practice and business (in both managed care and entrepreneurial care settings), including a virtual practice. This does include typical “business training” topics such as marketing, service offerings, legal considerations, social media, and financial planning. SAFM students  join Practitioner Activator* after completion of their AFMC Level 2 program. and exam.

* Separate fees may apply to students enrolled prior to June 2024.

How is the curriculum delivered? Do I have to attend classes live?

SAFM is a virtual program. Live case study calls, small group peer discussion sessions, and monthly live updates from Tracy Harrison are all part of the SAFM learning environment. But live participation is never required. We know students are busy, so we record and archive everything! Join us live when you can and listen to replays when you can’t or choose not to do so.  

Course content is delivered in a variety of formats in an effort to support a diverse learning styles. Video and audio files and slide decks are available for every course while a student is logged in to their account (slide decks and course documents may be downloaded).  

How do I access the Ignite Your Clinical Practice Program?

The Ignite your Clinical Practice program becomes available to you upon passing the AFMC Level 1 exam. You will then see a new course area for the program content on your student dashboard (just below the Open Coaching Calls section).

If you believe you have met the requirements for beginning this program, but do not have access, please select “Contact SAFM Support” via the Get Help option in the blue navigation bar above.

Why don’t I see any Open Coaching Calls (OCCs) listed for my Level 1 and/or Level 2 programs?

OCCs were not required for AFMC exam registration until 2019. As a result, students enrolled prior to that year would not see these calls included in their requirements.

I’ve already completed several of the Level 2 requirements but cannot access my Level 2 screen in My AFMC Journey Map. Why not?

Student must complete all requirements of one level of their Journey Map in order to access the next. For example, if a student has completed all AFMC Level 1 exam requirements but has not yet successfully passed the AFMC Level 1 exam, they will not be able to view Level 2 in the tool even if they have already begun fulfilling requirements for Level 2.

If you believe there is an error with the data reflected in your Journey Map details, please contact SAFM support using the Get Help menu at the top of your Dashboard.

My Journey Map isn’t showing an AFMC requirement I’ve already completed? How do I update my map?

Click on the Get Help header in the blue navigation bar at the top of the student Dashboard. Select Contact SAFM Support from the dropdown and complete the form for assistance.

My Journey Map shows that I’m ready to take an exam. When can I complete it?

SAFM offers three exam cycles annually. Registration is announced via email, the student Dashboard, and Facebook Forum Live announcements. Once a specific exam window opens, a registration button will be visible inside eligible Journey Maps until the window closes. To review exam cycle dates and register for notifications here.

Why can’t I view all the levels in My Journey Map?

The Journey Map view recognizes a student’s current level in the program and any past levels completed. A new Level 1 student, for example, will only be able to view progress made within that level. Once they successfully pass the Level 1 AFMC exam, Level 2 requirements will become their new page view and the Level 1 view will close and move to the bottom of the page.  Students may always look back at requirements from a previous level simply by clicking on the level details to expand the view.

What does the AFMC certification qualify me to do?

The Applied Functional Medicine Certification (i.e., AFMC) represents fulfillment of a set of rigorous requirements, defined by SAFM but guided by key functional medicine tenets, a demonstrated understanding of a unique body of knowledge, and competency in the application of that knowledge. The credential is intended to complement a practitioner’s existing licensure or certification. As such, achievement of the AFMC conveys the right for graduates, in good standing, to integrate SAFM’s teachings into their professional practice.  How each graduate chooses to implement is a professional decision that requires consideration of the individual’s scope of practice and their unique practice setting.

The SAFM community includes a variety of certifications, degrees, licenses, specialties, experience levels, geographic locations. We recommend that individuals seek qualified legal counsel and check with the governing body for their license/modality for further direction.

 

Note: There exists no functional medicine certifying body anywhere (in the U.S. or otherwise). For this reason, the AFMC credential, like those issued by similar educational programs, represents fulfillment of a set of rigorous requirements, defined by SAFM but guided by key functional medicine tenets, a demonstrated understanding of a unique body of knowledge, and competency in the application of that knowledge. The AFMC credential does not convey any additional modality, license, or title. Furthermore, these credentials are validated and awarded by a council of industry-leading health professionals who have demonstrated expert integration and application of functional medicine science and principles within their own unique area of licensure or certification and chosen to share their experience and passion for the purpose of developing other practitioners .

To review members of the SAFM Scientific Review Council, please visit our AFMC website.

Will I have access to all updated curriculum content as courses are revised?

Yes. Revised courses aligned to a specific program you have access to (i.e., what is included in tuition) will always be, automatically, updated and available for view by actively enrolled students via the student Dashboard.